Part of getting healthier hair, is to wash it less. Here are my top 6 tips on how to go longer between washes.

Dry Shampoo Can Be Your Best Friend!

A dry shampoo is a good thing to have handy. Dry shampoos get rid of those greasy roots, without you having to wash your hair. If you work out a lot these are helpful and are also handy if you’re travelling.

– The most cost effective brand of shampoo for all hair types is : Batiste

Satin Should Be in Your Wardrobe!

LOL not like that, but you should invest in a satin bonnet, head tie or pillowcase. Silk scarves work well too when wrapping the hair but can come off easily during sleep.

This technique is often used by women of color, but can also work for all different ethnicities, either to provide volume for curly hair or to prolong straightened hair.

Straight: Smooth your hair around your head, pinning with bobby pins to keep it flat, and continue on. You may use a mesh head band to keep it secure and then put on your silk bonnet, scarf or whatever you choose. This helps prevent that annoying line in your hair where the hair tie was.

Curly: Tie your hair in a pineapple (ponytail close to the top of your head) and use your bonnet, scarf or head-tie, or go to sleep on your satin pillowcase. This will help prolong your curls by keeping them moisturized and preventing frizz and will also give you more volume.

Rock Those Up-do’s Girl!

Doing an up-do is the PERFECT way to go another day without washing your hair, and I say the bigger the better… “That’s why her hair’s so big.. it’s full of secrets”. Well. The secret is, updos such as messy buns, and all sorts of twists and braids look so much better on dirty hair!

I know I KILL a sock bun at least once a week.

If you live in a climate where you can get away with wearing hats/beanies etc… Do that! Trust me, not only are they stylish, they keep you warm and can hide all your hair hang-ups.

Baby Powder Can Save Your Life!

I know when I had heat damage and was straightening my hair all the time, baby powder and I were inseparable. It hid my greasy roots for a while, and helped me not to wash my hair so often and prolong my style.

Although – you HAVE to rub this in properly, especially if you have dark hair like me.. ’cause let me tell you you do NOT want looking prematurely gray to your list of worries today.

DITCH All Those Products!

One of the main reasons people need to wash their hair so much is – PRODUCT BUILDUP!

The necessary products you need are the ones that give moisture to your hair, like your condititoner etc, not hairspray, gel and all that crap, especially not on first day hair.

Limit the amount of product you use, e.g. you can only use hairspray twice a week etc.. and you’ll find that your hair gets way less dirty in the same amount of time. Stick to using it only when you’re doing an up-do or you’re going out somewhere that you really need to look good for!

Conditioner to the Rescue!

Co-washing can allow you to go more time in-between washes. Co – washing is quite simply the act of washing your hair with conditioner instead of shampoo. A lot of kinky/curly/coily haired girls use co washing to allow them to go up to 2-4 weeks between washing. It’s the action of massaging your scalp and the water running over your hair that cleans it.

The most important thing is to take baby steps. If you wash daily, do NOT jump into washing your hair only once a week. Your hair will look disgusting and you’ll get disheartened. My advice is, increase what you’re doing by 1 day. So wash every other day, and keep going on until you get to a routine you’re happy with.

How Long SHOULD I go between washes?

Depending on your hair type it varies, but I’d say:

1. Thin, light grease prone hair – every 2-3 days

2. Thinner curly/wavy hair like mine – 1 or 2 times per week.

3. Extremely thick kinky/curly or coily hair – every 2-4 weeks.

This is simply a guide, but wash your hair as often as YOU prefer. Train your hair to your wash routine!

Do I need to wash.. Is there no alternative to shampoo?

You can use products like clarifying and cleansing cremes; you can even use natural products to clarify the hair, just make sure you do your research!

After discovering a whole curly hair/hair growth community on youtube and even just the general internet I’ve compiled a few key tips which have helped my hair to be thicker and grow faster and more healthy.

if you have tangle prone hair it is advisable to finger detangle your hair rather than comb as this is a more gentle way to undo knots instead of tugging and pulling the hair with a comb. If you can’t go without combing, switch to using a wider tooth comb.

It’s important you keep your hair moisturized if you want to grow it. The above recipe can be done once weekly the day you plan to wash your hair and can be followed up by the baking soda/vinegar rinse I mentioned before.

Here are some oils which promote hair growth:

Peppermint Oil

Rosemary Oil

Lavender Oil

Coconut Oil

Grapeseed Oil

Shea Oil

Hope this helped!! Let me know how it works for you.. Keep in mind you want HEALTHY hair, and the length follows.

This routine allowed me to go from having chin length hair ^^^ , to having hair that reaches the bottom of my bra strap, in about 1 year and a half

So as a girl with natural curly hair, I’ve been looking for a good way to clarify my hair for a while. Using oils can sometimes cause build-up in your hair and that can be difficult to get out of your hair without using a shampoo containing damaging sulfates.

After doing some research, I found Baking Soda and Vinegar. The most commonly used vinegar is Apple Cider, but Distilled White Vinegar may also be used.

Won’t using vinegar leave my hair smelling funny?

No, in my experience, once your hair is completely dry you shouldn’t experience any smell. If you do, you could dilute the recipe more. I actually noticed my hair smelled really nice and clean

Won’t vinegar dry out my hair?

No, this recipe is dilute enough to not harm the hair. My hair actually looked more moisturized and defined without any product in it whatsoever. Do this at night, not when you’re planning to go in direct sunlight.

This rinse can take the place of expensive shampoos and work twice as well.

How does it work?

It reduces frizz by smoothing the cuticle of the hair shaft. This adds shine and manageability. It also adjusts the pH of your hair as it is mildly acidic, as is your hair; whilst normal hair products are alkaline, and also strip your hair of moisture CAUSING FRIZZ.

The Recipe:

– 1 cup of warm water

– 1 teaspoon of baking soda

– 2 teaspoons of vinegar ( distilled white if you are blond, or apple cider)

– 1 cup of warm water

* You can do them as separate steps or you can do as I did and mix them together in a bottle at one time and apply to the hair.

Thoroughly saturate the hair, and then just tie in a pineapple, leave it for 5-10 minutes.

Rinse out with warm water, and use conditioner towards the ends of your hair (from ear down) if necessary.

I would recommend doing this once every week or fortnight, depending on your hair regime.

Here are the pics of my hair after using this and letting my hair air dry for around 2 hrs.

Apple Cider Vinegar can also be used to:

Give energy

Treat the skin

Treat Warts

Whiten Teeth

Lose Weight

Hope this helps! If you do it leave a comment, pictures/video response.